The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire Edition 25: June/July 2016 | Page 24

REVVED UP

VOLVO S60 IN AT THE BUSINESS END
With the current proliferation of hatchbacks it is hard to see
the appeal of saloons. The Volvo S60 D3 SE Lux Nav is not
perhaps the first choice for a family motor so the appeal of
this car must lie firmly in the executive business car bracket.
From The Kerb
The car certainly has some kerb appeal.
Handsome is the word. The styling changes
of the most recent update consist mainly
of determined-looking headlights, stronger
horizontal body creases and a new wide grille
all combining to give the car a bit more visual
flair when competing with the latest German
opposition.
From The Driver's Seat
The S60 offers an interior that is typically
Volvo. That is to say it is beautifully made with
a driver-focused dashboard. Always a highlight
is the sweeping brushed aluminium centre
column with its 'telephone pad' selection of
buttons that feature all the usual in-car tech.
The Volvo S60 interior is characterised by
simple, effective design, such as the sweep
of chrome trim that makes a highlight of the
interior door handles. The front seats in the
standard SE models are large, comfortable and
adjustable. The emphasis is on comfort and
ease of use throughout. Rear seat passengers

are well cosseted with the possible exception
of taller folk who could perhaps use a little
more headroom, but it's a minor issue.
The Business End
The Volvo S60 utilises a new 2.0L allaluminium twin-turbocharged diesel engine
which forms the bedrock of Volvo's engine
range (alongside the petrol version) and it
is so much better than the engines of old,
using some clever technology to drive down
emissions and boost performance.
This diesel unit can be adapted for
different power outputs and in the case of
this D3 version produces 150hp and 236lb.
ft of torque. This delivers performance that
gives progressive, if not startling, acceleration
reaching the benchmark 62mph in nine
seconds. Volvo reckon that in this car around
70mpg is possible. I didn't see that in mixed
use but over 50mpg wasn't at all bad, aided
by Stop/Start. Long distance motorway
cruising could well improve on that.
The Volvo S60 comes with either a six-

speed manual gearbox or, as tested here,
a very smooth 'Geartronic' eight-speed
automatic. It's good but is bound and
determined to make sure you save fuel by
rushing to get into the highest gear in the
shortest possible time resulting in a shortage
of momentum, often at inappropriate
times. There's a Sport mode which livens up
proceedings and probably explains why I didn't
come close to the official figure for mpg.
It's a very comfortable car, the Volvo, and
the ride is refined. Conversely of course this
means that handling is not a strong suit, being
too soft for lively cornering and, for me, the
steering was too light and lacking in feel. On
the plus side, these are the very attributes that
would appeal to long distance business users.
CO² emissions of 102g/km make this car
an attractive business user proposition with
company car tax (BIK) at 17% at the time of
writing unless the Chancellor has a change of
heart. (He won't).
The Swedish car maker is on a mission to
ensure that by 2020 nobody will die or be

seriously injured in a Volvo. It's a bold claim
but there is no arguing with the amount of
safety technology on board their cars. Suffice
to say you're about as safe as you could be on
the road, short of driving a Challenger tank.
Is It The Business?
The Volvo S60 has the legendary build quality
and state-of-the-art safety tech that we
have come to expect from the brand. Some
features are options however which bumped
up the price of our test car to just over £40k
which puts it into the territory of the prestige
German motors.
It doesn't have the sort of vibe that family
or sporting motorists crave but it does have
all the qualities needed for the hard-pressed
business user. It is smooth, economical, very
comfortable, easy to drive and, crucially, safe.
It is not a drivers' car but it is a fine car that
fills a niche.
Written by Geoff Maxted
www.drivewrite.co.uk

Great business deals on paper. Even better on tarmac.
i40 Tourer S 1.7 CRDi
115PS Blue Drive
i40 Tourer S 1.7 CRDi
115PS Blue Drive
£191 per month^

£191 per month^
With £1,146 Initial
Payment (plus VAT)
From 110g/km CO2 | From 22% BIK
Combined cycle up to 67.3 MPG

With £1,146 Initial
Payment (plus VAT)
From 110g/km CO2 | From 22% BIK
Combined cycle up to 67.3 MPG

Test Drive the possibilities
Pebley Beach

West Swindon Motor Park, Paddington Drive, Bridgemead, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN5 7SB
01793 644777 | www.hyundai.co.uk/dealer/pebley-beach-swindon
Fuel consumption in MPG (l/100km) for New i40 range: Urban 50.4 (5.6) - 58.9 (4.8), Extra Urban 61.4 (4.6) - 74.3 (3.8), Combined 56.5 (5.0) - 67.3 (4.2),
CO 2 Emissions 129 - 110g/km. These official EU test figures are to be used as a guide for comparative purposes and may not reflect all driving results.

^
Business users only. Contract hire offers for business users for i40 saloon S 1.7 CRDi 115PS Blue Drive, figure based on a non-maintenance contract hire package with advance rental of
£1,116+VAT, then 35 monthly rentals of £186+VAT. Excess annual miles over 8,000 charged at 4.97 ppm. i40 Tourer S 1.7 CRDi 115PS Blue Drive, figure based on a non-maintenance contract
hire package with advance rental of £1,146+VAT, then 35 monthly rentals of £191+VAT. Excess annual miles over 8,000 charged at 4.97 ppm. For orders received between 1st April and 30th
June 2016, subject to availability, status and agreement. Guarantee may be required. Prices and details are subject to change without notice. Free metallic paint is only available in
conjunction with Hyundai Contract Hire offer and applies to selected models only. For full specification, wear and tear provisions and other T&Cs see Hyundai Contract Hire Master
Agreement and your local Dealer. ALD Automotive Ltd., t/a Hyundai Contract Hire,